Multi-position work stand

ABSTRACT

A work stand mounts against a wall of a garage, paint booth, or other work space, and has a swing-up support arm that is supported by a pivot-mounted strut. A holder or bracket mounts to a nosepiece at the free end of the support arm. The orientation of the arm and of the bracket can be selected for optimal positioning. The bracket can have support brackets for holding a door, hood, or trunk lid. A work table can be mounted onto the free end of the support arm. This work stand can be used to advantage to hold automotive doors, hoods, bumpers, or other body parts for sanding, painting, or buffing.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to work stands for repair and construction of components or articles, and in particular is directed to a device for holding a workpiece in a convenient position for a repair or painting of an article. The invention is more specifically directed to a wall-mounted stand that can project out from the wall, and can swing or pivot up from a horizontal position to one or more raised positions, and which includes bracket(s) that can be positioned on the stand for holding a large component or article, e.g., for holding a bumper, hood, trunk lid, or door for repair or painting in an automotive body shop environment.

There now exists a need for a convenient method for holding an auto body component at a convenient height for preparing, sanding, and painting during a body repair procedure. The present equipment for holding these items is usually bulky and heavy and requires some effort for the stand or table be moved into position when required, or out of the way when not needed.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a simple and effective work stand that avoids the problems found in the prior art.

It is another object to provide a wall-mounted work stand that can swing or pivot between various positions and can be positioned against the wall for storage, and which may be used conveniently in automotive repair and painting applications.

It is a further object to provide a work stand that can be easily and quickly configured for use with any of a number of different shape and size workpieces, such as auto doors, hoods, bumpers, or smaller components.

According to an aspect of this invention, the multi-position work stand is adapted for supporting a work piece of any of a wide range of sizes and shapes. The work stand has a wall-mounted base member that includes an upper pivot member and a lower pivot member. There is an elongated support arm that has one end that is pivotally supported on the upper pivot member, so that the support arm is swingably movable, about the upper pivot member, between a horizontal position and a number of elevated positions. The support arm has a nose piece at its free end. A strut for supporting the support arm has a lower end pivotally supported in the lower pivot member, and has an upper end attached to a pivot portion of a slide or sleeve member. The latter is slidably movable along the elongated support arm. A stop member, e.g., a transverse pin fits into any of several pin apertures in the support arm to block the sliding motion of the sleeve and to hold the arm in the position selected by the technician, i.e., the horizontal position, an intermediate position, a high position, or a vertical storage position.

One or more workpiece bracket members are provided, and such bracket(s) is or are removably attachable to the nosepiece and serve to facilitate holding the workpiece in a proper position.

In one embodiment, the base includes a vertical beam or rail member and two (or more) wall mounting brackets.

The elongated support arm can be formed of a shaft or beam of a predetermined cross section, e.g., a square tubular member.

The nose piece may be of a pointed, i.e., triangular shape and may be formed of a square tube (or tubes) that slides onto the end of the support arm. The nosepiece can have a triangular flange or triangular member that projects down from this. The nosepiece is provided with a plurality of pin apertures therethrough, for securing the bracket member.

In a preferred embodiment the bracket member can include a pair of vertical rail members that are adapted to be positioned on the right and left sides of the nose piece. The bracket also has an upper crossbar member and a lower crossbar member extending laterally from the vertical rail members. In one implementation, there is a short cross bar at one end and a longer cross bar at the other end. Favorably, a pair of support brackets can be included, which can be positioned onto one or the other of the cross bars by sliding them in place. These support brackets can have a flange or arm that projects out and provides a place for attaching the door, hood, trunk lid or the like. In addition, the work stand can be provided with one or more work tables that each attach onto the support arm for holding smaller parts or components. Each work table may include a generally planar tray member and a bracket member affixed to an under side of the tray member, the bracket member being adapted to fit onto the free end of the support arm.

The above and many other objects, features, and advantages of this invention will become apparent to persons skilled in the art from the ensuing description of a preferred embodiment, which should be considered in connection with the accompanying Drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a side view of the work stand according to one preferred embodiment of the invention, here shown with the support arm in its lower or horizontal position.

FIGS. 2 and 3 are front and side views of the bracket member of this embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates the work stand moving between its various positions.

FIG. 5 shows the work stand in its vertical or storage position.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show the work stand in an upper work position and an intermediate work position, respectively.

FIG. 8 shows the support brackets that may be employed in this embodiment.

FIGS. 9 and 10 show work tables employed in this embodiment.

FIG. 11 illustrates the wall brackets employed in this embodiment.

FIG. 12 shows the work stand employing the work table.

FIGS. 13, 14 and 15 illustrate practical applications of the work stand of this embodiment in holding an automotive door, a hood, and a bumper, respectively.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to the Drawing, and initially to FIGS. 1 to 3 thereof, one preferred embodiment of the work stand 10 has a wall mounted base 12, which here is formed of a vertical rail member 14 with upper and lower wall mounting brackets 16 and 18. Mounted on the vertical rail member 14 are an upper pivot member 20 and a lower pivot member 22. In this embodiment, the upper pivot member 20 is situated in the middle portion of the rail member and the lower pivot member 22 is at the lower end. A swing-up support arm 24 is implemented as an elongated rail member formed of a length of square tubular steel. One end of the arm 24, i.e., a pivot end, is journaled in the upper pivot member 20, and its other end is considered its free end. A strut member 26 has one end, i.e., a lower end. pivotally supported in the lower pivot member, and its other end, i.e., its upper end, is attached to a slide bracket or sleeve 28 that is slidably mounted onto the support arm 24. A nosepiece 30 is mounted onto the free end of the support arm 24. This can be permanently affixed to the arm 24 or can be removable. Here, the nosepiece is formed with a two square tubes, i.e., an upper and a lower square tube, to which is affixed a generally triangular steel plate. The upper square tube slides onto the free end of the arm 24 and can be secured in place with a pin member 31. The nosepiece 30 is provided with openings or apertures for receiving an attachment pin member to secure the bracket 34. In other embodiments the nosepiece 30 could be of a different shape and design. In some cases, the free end of the arm 24 itself could be configured to serve as the nosepiece.

There is a series of apertures or openings 32 along the arm 24 to receive a pin member 31 which serves to block movement of the slide bracket 28 and hold the arm 24 in a desired position.

FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate a holder or bracket 34 that removably attaches onto the nosepiece on the arm 24 of the work stand. Here, the bracket is formed of a pair of vertical rails 36, 36 which are spaced apart a small amount to form a slot between them, so that the rails 36 fit snugly against right and left sides of the work stand nosepiece 30. There are openings or apertures 38 along the rails 36 to receive mounting pins so that the bracket 34 can be attached to the nosepiece 30 by means of attachment pins 47 placed through corresponding openings in the nosepiece. The bracket also has an upper cross bar 40 that extends laterally to the left and right of the rails 36 and a lower cross bar 42 that likewise extends laterally to the left and right of the vertical rails 36. In this embodiment, there are upper and lower mounting plates 44 and 46 that attach the cross bars 40 and 42 to the vertical rails 36.

The bracket 34 can be attached with the longer cross bar 40 on the top, as shown, or can be inverted and attached to the workstand with the shorter cross bar 42 above and the longer cross bar 40 below.

As shown in FIG. 4, with further reference to FIGS. 5, 6, and 7, the work stand can be placed into any of multiple positions, including a horizontal position (like that shown in FIG. 1); a vertical or storage position (FIG. 5), in which the arm 24 is held up against the rail 14; a high position (FIG. 6); and an intermediate raised position (FIG. 7) somewhat between the horizontal and the high positions. These positions are established by inserting the pin 31 into a selected one of the pin apertures 32 to block the slide bracket 28. By selecting the desired horizontal or elevated position of the arm 24 and the placement of the bracket 34, the work stand can be configured to hold a body part or other workpiece at the optimal height for sanding, painting, buffing, or other work.

FIG. 8 shows a pair of support brackets 50 that are used to attach an automobile door, hood, or trunk lid, or other desired parts, to the main bracket 34. In this embodiment, the brackets are in the form of sleeve members 52 that fit over the cross bar 40 or 42. The cross bars 40 and 42 are of square cross section or profile, and the sleeve members 52 have an open core of a similar square profile. Each of these sleeve members 52 has a bracket arm 54 that projects out, and serves as a means for attaching the door, trunk lid, etc. These bracket arms can have slots or openings to receive bolts or other fasteners.

FIGS. 9 and 10 show a small table 56 and a large table 58, respectively, that can be attached onto the support arm 24 of the work stand when the arm is oriented in its horizontal position. The smaller table 56 has a generally flat, rectangular tray portion 60, which can have a peripheral rim or wall at its edges. At an underside of the tray portion 60, a sleeve or bracket 62 is affixed. This bracket 62 is adapted to slide onto the free end of the support arm 24. The table is thus supported by the horizontal support arm 24. The work stand with the table 56 can be used to hold a number of smaller parts that need to be sanded, painted or buffed.

The larger table 58 is of similar construction, with a rectangular tray portion 64 (with peripheral rim) and with a bracket 66 affixed onto its under side for sliding onto the free end of the support arm 24.

FIG. 11 shows the wall mounts 16 and 18 that support the vertical rail 14 on a wall of the garage or other work space. These wall mounts are intended for mounting with bolts or similar threaded fasteners. The invention is not limited to this design, and other wall mounts could be employed.

FIG. 12 shows the wall-mounted work stand 10 with the table 56 in place and supported on the elongated arm 24, with the bracket 62 sliding onto the free end of the support arm 24.

FIG. 13 shows an automotive door 70 being held in place on the work stand 10. The door or hood brackets 50 are shown in place on the cross bar 40 of the bracket member 34, with the bracket member 34 being secured by means of attachment pins 37 at an optimal height for the paint technician or other user.

FIG. 14 shows an auto hood 74 similarly attached to the support bracket members 50 in place on the main bracket 34 of the work stand 10.

FIG. 15 illustrates a car bumper 76 secured onto the cross bar 40 of the bracket 34, and positioned optimally for the technician to repair and paint the bumper.

As shown in the disclosed embodiment, the nosepiece can be of a generally pentagonal shape, here with the pointed end oriented downwards. There are pin apertures at various places on the nosepiece 30, so that the bracket 34 can be attached in any of its horizontal, intermediate, and high positions. The upper tubular portion of the nosepiece slides onto the free end of the support arm 24, and is secured here by means of a removable pin 31.

In other implementations of this work stand, other types of stop members could be substituted for the attachment pins e.g. for pins 31 and 47.

While the invention has been described in reference to a preferred embodiment, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to that precise embodiment. Rather, many modifications and variations will present themselves to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention, as defined in the appended claims. 

1. A multi-position work stand for supporting a work piece, comprising: a wall-mounted base member having an upper pivot member and a lower pivot member thereon; an elongated arm having a pivot end that is pivotally supported on said upper pivot member and is swingably movable about the upper pivot member between a horizontal position and a plurality of raised positions, and having a free end; a strut that has a lower end pivotally supported in said lower pivot member, and an upper end; a sleeve member slidably movable along said elongated arm, and having a pivot portion thereof that is pivotally attached to the upper end of said strut; a stop member for removably blocking sliding motion of said sleeve to hold said arm in selected ones of said horizontal and raised positions; and at least one workpiece bracket member removably attachable to said free end to hold the workpiece.
 2. The multi-position work stand of claim 1, further comprising a nosepiece attached onto said free end.
 3. The multi-position work stand of claim 1, wherein said base includes a vertical beam member and a plurality of wall mounting brackets.
 4. The multi-position work stand of claim 1, wherein said elongated arm is formed as a tubular member of a predetermined cross section.
 5. The multi-position work stand of claim 3 wherein said elongated arm is formed of square tubular stock.
 6. The multi-position work stand of claim 1, wherein said stop member includes a pin that is removably insertable into each of a plurality of pin apertures through said arm.
 7. The multi-position work stand of claim 2, wherein said nose piece is formed of a pair of tubular members, one of which is adapted to slide onto the free end of said support arm.
 8. The multi-position work stand of claim 7, wherein said nosepiece is provided with a plurality of pin apertures therethrough.
 9. The multi-position work stand of claim 1, wherein said bracket member includes a pair of vertical members that are positioned on right and left sides of said nose piece, and two crossbar members extending laterally from said vertical members.
 10. The multi-position work stand of claim 9, comprising a pair of support brackets that are slidably positioned on said cross bar members.
 11. The multi-position work stand of claim 1, comprising a support table which includes a generally planar tray member and a bracket member affixed to an under side of said tray member and adapted to fit onto the free end of said support arm. 